COMENIUS MULTILATERAL PROJECT FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION THROUGH THE L.L.P.

PROGRAMMES

R.R.E.V.
(REDISCOVER THE REAL EUROPEAN VALUES) PARTNERS: Romania, Estonia, Italy, Spain, Norway, France, Cyprus, Holland, Turkey.

AN EXCEPTIONAL PERSON- PRINCE VLADIMIR GHIKA

A Romanian Orthodox prince born in 1873, Vladimir Ghika converted to Catholicism in 1902. An ardent contemplative and active on all fronts, in diplomacy, charity and the apostolate, he became a priest, then a prelate in 1931. While still a layman, the Prince obtained two doctorates in Rome, in philosophy and theology. His writings harmoniously blend the poetry of an oriental spirit with theological rigour. He died a martyr in Romania in 1954 and his writings have been a real influence on the foundation of our Religious Family. His beatification process has just been opened.

Prince and shepherd

Born in a palace in Constantinople on Christmas Day, 1873, he was the grandson of the last

sovereign of Moldova. A Romanian Orthodox prince, of French origins through his mother, he received a refined education, which put him in touch with the internationale elite. During his brilliant studies in Toulouse and Paris, he discovered the truth for which he had been searching so long: he officially converted to Catholicism in 1902.

Forerunner of the apostolate of the laity His conversion saw the beginning of his intense missionary and charitable work. Among other things, he founded the house of the Daughters of Charity in Bucharest and helped all the poor people that Providence placed in his way. As a layman, he consecrated a large part of his life to prayer and his doctrinal formation. In Rome, he obtained from the Dominican university his licence in philosophy and doctorate of theology in 1905. Pope St Pius X persuaded him not to become a priest for the time being, because of his aged mother. But the saintly pope had appreciated the qualities and the radiant goodness of the Prince and encouraged him to develop his apostolate as a layman, as his prestige was so great among his Orthodox brothers. World War One saw him struggle with all sorts of misery, as well as diplomacy.

Apostle of the Little Ones... Vladimir burned with desire to respond to the call of Jesus. In 1923, at the age of 50, by special permission from Pope Pius XI who had a great reespect for him, he was ordained priest. In one of his writings, he put on the lips of his Divine Master this phrase which sums up his entire priesthood: "0 my priest, how do you dare to sacrifice Me, truly and entirely, if you have not already sacrificed yourself truly and entirely?" Thus began a unique, obscure and splendid cycle of epics. He devoted himself with unimaginable activity to the service of all souls. Catholic or Orthodox, rich or poor, mystics or blasphemers would be the friends of this shepherd of royal blood, infatigable traveller, traversing up to a quarter of the planet to help a single soul..."Don't try and do a great work on your own," he wrote, "but be a tool of happiness." He took this "happiness" into the "zone rouge" of the Parisian suburb where he installed himself in a little railway shed on waste ground in Villejuif. His heroism and his gentleness did miracles, leading to the foundation of the parish of Villejuif.

Apostle of the Great... Cardinal Verdier, archbishop of Paris, appreciated the qualities of his "Prince Vincent-de-Paul" and put him in charge of the foreigners' church in the rue de Svres, responsible for refugees of all races and ranks. An admired writer, imitated as a spiritual director, he renewed his acquaintance with Parisian high society which could help him in his new task: Maritain, Claudel, Mauriac, H. Bordeaux, Francis Jammes, Bergson and Fr Garrigou-Lagrange would have been among his closest friends. Daring charity From 1923 to 1939, his priestly ministry was exercised with an habitual discretion, in the most difficult of cases: in the midst of anarchists, Satanists, priests who had abandoned the priestly life...God alone knows the number of conversions of souls transformed by his gentleness, his patience and his strength. The Martyr Mgr Ghika founded a "Fraternity of Saint John", which he installed in the Abbey of Auberive in Haute-Marne in 1926. This religious family of priests, sisters and lay people, encouraged and blessed by Pope Pius XI, animated by "the spirit of St John", by the burning soul of its founder, developed rapidly. But unhappy circumstances put an end to the community in just four years. Whatever his supernatural qualities, the Prince was not a born organiser! This setback was the heaviest burden the Prince had to bear in his entire life. World War Two found him in Romania. With the permission of Cardinal Suhard, archbishop of Paris, he stayed where he was to help alleviate the new physical and spiritual misery which Providence had put in his way. The terrible bombardment of Bucharest in 1944 showed his heroic devotion. Communism was installed in Romania in 1948, and King Michael invited Mgr Ghika to follow him into exile in Paris. But audaciously, Mgr Ghika continued to celebrate Mass publicly in Bucharest, comforting, converting and baptising. In 1952, at 80 years of age, he was arrested and disappeared into oblivion in the Julava prison. He died a martyr on 17 May 1954. The procedure for the Prince's beatification is in train. Let us hope that it succeeds soon, and let us pray for this intention. God alone knows the fruitfulness of the Cross accepted with love, and the unexpected heritage devoted to Him alone... MATERIAL PREPARED BY STUDENTS AVRAM COSMIN AND SEVERIN ANDREI WITH THE HELP OF TEACHER PAULA-ODILLE DOGAN, FROM MIHAI EMINESCU SCHOOL, ROMAN, ROMANIA.